Indian Security Forces Eliminate Three Foreign Terrorists In Kishtwar, Increases Vigil along LoC

India’s security forces on Sunday (February 22, 2026) achieved a major breakthrough in its counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir with the elimination of three foreign terrorists, including a top Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Saifullah in Kishtwar district.

Saifullah carried a reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head and was said to be active in the Chenab valley for over five years now, according to Indian Army officials. He had managed to escape multiple encounters with the security forces in recent months.

On February 13, 2026, also Jammu and Kashmir Police had raised an alarm over Saifullah and had pasted posters in several areas of Kishtwar seeking information on his whereabouts from the general public, and announcing an award for any information that leads to his elimination or arrest.

With the elimination of the three terrorists on Sunday (February 22), all seven foreign terrorists active in Doda and Kishtwar districts of the Union Territory were killed in security operations in the recent days.

“This is a major breakthrough and 2 Para Special Forces of the Army have been after this group for some time now. Saifullah was involved in several attacks against the forces. No foreign terrorist is active in Kishtwar and Doda now,” a senior army official said.

On receiving intelligence inputs on Saifullah’s whereabouts, the Indian Army launched ‘Operation Trashi-I’ to track the infiltrators.

“After successful contact was established, troops of CIF Delta White Knight Corps, in coordination with J&K police and CRPF, re-engaged the terrorists on Sunday (February 22, 2026) at approximately 11:00 am in a challenging terrain,” the Indian Army statement said.

“Displaying tactical precision, seamless synergy and resolute aggression, troops dominated the encounter site wherein three terrorists have been successfully neutralised,” it said.

From the killed terrorists, the security forces recovered war-like stores, including three AK-47 rifles. “The hunt continues. Those who seek to disturb peace will find no sanctuary”, the Indian Army’s ‘White Knight’ Corps statement said.

“They were in a dhok (mud hut) of nomadic population in the mountains. During the exchange of fire, the hut caught fire and the bodies were charred,” an officer said.

Operation Trashi-I is presently continuing in Kishtwar area from January 18, in which special forces personnel Havildar Gajender Singh of 2 Para was killed and seven other personnel were injured on January 22.

Later, an infiltrator was killed in the same operation on February 4. Since then, the army continued search and surveillance in the area.

Over the past few weeks, the armed forces have detained and questioned several locals from Chatroo of Kishtwar where the initial gun fight started.

Meanwhile, with the snow melting in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, the Indian Army has adopted a two-pronged strategy: strengthening security along the Line of Control and International Borders, and intensifying security operations against terrorists in the hinterland.

The Army assessment is that the ceasefire with the Pakistan Army since February 2021 had led to several terrorists infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir, crossing the Line of Control and International Border, and have become active in the union territory.

The major challenge for the Indian security forces are the foreign terrorists, who infiltrated into India, and hence the massive combing and eliminating operations against them were currently progressing in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The intelligence assessment is that about 150 terrorists were currently active, with around equal distribution of the armed cadres in both Jammu and Kashmir regions of the union territory.

India has witnessed that terrorists infiltration increased when the snow began melting, as the blocked routes during winter opened up for movement.

The Indian security forces had blocked an infiltration bid in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri on Friday (February 20), when they opened fire on suspicious movement along the Line of Control. They later recovered arms and ammunition abandoned by the infiltrating terrorists from the operation spot.

The Army and other security agencies have also increased their vigil around both LoC and IB areas, particularly in Rajouri and Poonch sectors that witnessed multiple infiltration attempts in the past.

Even after destruction of several terror camps by Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor, intelligence inputs suggest that several of them were revived by the Pakistan Army’s Inter-Services Intelligence and are currently active, training and pushing foreign terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir.

In recent months, the Army, along with Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF, carried out several counter-terrorism operations in Kishtwar, Kathua, Doda, and Udhampur and eliminated several terrorists, but face challenges due to reopening of high altitude infiltration routes.

Meanwhile, several senior Indian Army officers have begun visits to forward areas along the LoC to inspire, plan, and oversee the counter-terrorism operations and preparedness of the troops.

India’s Northern Army commander Lt Gen. Pratik Sharma visited Sunderbani on Saturday (February 21, 2026) to take stock of the situation, following the successful completion of Operation Jwala that thwarted several terrorist infiltration attempts and led to the recovery of war-like military stores.

Nagrota-based White Knight Corps commander Lt Gen. P. K. Mishra too visited Balnoi in Poonch on Friday (February 20) to review the security situation after Army troops found heavily blood-stained tracks in Sunderbani region, indicating injured terrorists running away through that route following an encounter with the security forces.

On February 22, Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi, while lauding the troops for steadfast resolve, operational excellence and seamless coordination in ongoing operations, reiterated commitment to ensure lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir, with zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms, the Indian Army’s X handle posted.